Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1486)

Life Rafts and Other Life-saving Appliances

Marginal note:Requirement to carry on board

• 3.28 (1) A fishing vessel that is engaged on a voyage set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection, and that has a hull length set out in column 2, shall carry on board the life-saving appliances set out in column 3.

  	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
  Item	Voyage	Hull Length	Other Life-saving Appliances
  1	Unlimited	Any length	(a) two or more SOLAS life rafts or reduced capacity life rafts with a total capacity that is sufficient to carry, on each side of the vessel, the number of persons on board; (b) one recovery boat; and (c) an immersion suit of an appropriate size for each person on board
  2	Near coastal voyage, class 1	Any length	(a) one or more SOLAS life rafts or reduced capacity life rafts with total a capacity that is sufficient to carry the number of persons on board; and (b) an immersion suit of an appropriate size for each person on board
  3	Near coastal voyage, class 2	More than 12 m	(a) one or more life rafts, or a combination of life rafts and recovery boats, with a total capacity that is sufficient to carry the number of persons on board; (b) an EPIRB, unless the vessel is carrying on board an EPIRB required under the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020; and (c) if the water temperature is less than 15°C, an immersion suit or an anti-exposure work suit of an appropriate size for each person on board
  4	Near coastal voyage, class 2	Not more than 12 m	(a) one or more life rafts, or a combination of life rafts and recovery boats, with a total capacity that is sufficient to carry the number of persons on board; or (b) the following equipment: (i) an EPIRB or a means of two-way radio communication, unless the vessel is carrying on board an EPIRB required under the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020, and (ii) if the water temperature is less than 15°C, an immersion suit or an anti-exposure work suit of an appropriate size for each person on board
  5	Sheltered waters voyage or near coastal voyage, class 2, restricted to 2 nautical miles	Any length	(a) one or more life rafts or recovery boats with a total capacity that is sufficient to carry the number of the persons on board; or (b) the following equipment: (i) an EPIRB or a means of two-way radio communication, unless the vessel is carrying on board an EPIRB required under the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020, and (ii) if the water temperature is less than 15°C, an immersion suit or an anti-exposure work suit of an appropriate size for each person on board

• Marginal note:Appliances or written procedures

  (2) Instead of carrying on board the appliances referred to in subparagraph 5(b)(ii) of the table to subsection (1), a fishing vessel engaged on a sheltered waters voyage may carry on board appliances or written procedures, or a combination of both, for protecting all persons on board from the effects of hypothermia or cold shock resulting from swamping, capsizing or falling overboard.

• Marginal note:Substitute for recovery boat

  (3) A fishing vessel referred in subsection (1) is not required to carry on board a recovery boat if the vessel carries on board an emergency boat, a rescue boat, or a seine skiff that is ordinarily used in the fishing vessel’s fishing operations.

Marginal note:Requirements for life rafts

3.29 A life raft that is carried on board a fishing vessel shall

• (a) be marked with the date and place of last service;

• (b) be serviced, at the intervals set out in section 2 of Schedule IV to the Life Saving Equipment Regulations, at a service station that is accredited by the manufacturer of the life raft; and

• (c) except in the case of a coastal life raft that is packed in a valise-type container, be stored in a manner that allows it to automatically float free if the vessel sinks.

Marginal note:Requirements for recovery boats

3.3 A recovery boat that is carried on board a fishing vessel shall carry on board the following equipment:

• (a) a buoyant safety knife secured near the painter;

• (b) a bailer secured within the boat;

• (c) a set of oars or paddles, with locks, secured within the boat;

• (d) a boat hook;

• (e) a painter secured forward, or a quick release slip that can be operated under strain;

• (f) if there are plugholes, a plug for each plughole, secured near the plughole;

• (g) a buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length;

• (h) a flash light with spare bulb and batteries;

• (i) a rustproof whistle;

• (j) two red hand flares; and

• (k) in the case of an inflatable boat, an air pump with fittings suitable for replenishing the inflated chambers.

Marginal note:Launching appliance

3.31 A life raft, emergency boat, recovery boat or rescue boat shall be equipped with a launching appliance, unless it is capable of being launched safely and rapidly by manual means.

Vessel Safety Equipment

Marginal note:Bailers and bilge pumps

• 3.32 (1) A fishing vessel that has a hull length of not more than 9 m shall carry on board a bailer or a manual bilge pump.

• Marginal note:Manual bilge pump

  (2) A fishing vessel that has a hull length of more than 9 m shall carry on board a manual bilge pump.

• Marginal note:Dimensions — bailer

  (3) The bailer referred to in subsection (1) shall be made of plastic or metal, have an opening of at least 65 cm² and have a capacity of at least 750 mL.

• Marginal note:Manual bilge pump — piping and operation

  (4) The manual bilge pump referred to in subsections (1) and (2) shall be

  • (a) fitted with or accompanied by a sufficient length of piping or hose to enable water to be pumped from the bilge space of the fishing vessel over the side of the vessel; and

  • (b) capable of being operated from a position above the deck of the fishing vessel.

Marginal note:Manual propelling device

3.33 A fishing vessel that has no deck or deck structure and that has a hull length of not more than 6 m shall carry on board a set of oars, a paddle or another device that uses human power to propel the vessel.